How to contribute

Coming Sunday: A special section

A special section in Sunday’s Post-Crescent marks the 10th anniversary of the building of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. The facility at the corner of College Avenue and Division Street in downtown Appleton opened on Nov. 24, 2002. The section includes insights from the leaders who successfully raised the monies needed to build the performing arts center a decade ago. Also look for a report on how the PAC has impacted development in the downtown entertainment district and see a listing of every show that has played on the PAC’s big stage in its first 10 seasons. At postcrescent. com, see a video tour of the PAC and hear from patrons on their favorite PAC moments.

More

ADVERTISEMENT

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on Friday publicly launched its $25 million endowment fundraising campaign, which already has collected $17 million in contributions and pledges during a leadership phase.

The PAC’s goal for The Keystone Campaign is to raise $25 million in contributions and planned gift pledges by June 30, 2014, PAC president Susan Stockton said during a press conference Friday at the PAC in downtown Appleton.

Stockton said the endowment for several years has started to produce annual contributions to the PAC’s operating fund. The endowment, she said, has been building through unsolicited donations earmarked for an endowment prior to The Keystone Campaign, and through The Keystone Campaign’s quiet leadership phase.

“What you look to is to have this base underneath that will spin off earnings into the operating budget,” Stockton said.

The establishment of an endowment provides long-term financial stability to the PAC’s long-range business plan, and plans ahead for the facility’s long-term maintenance.

“To keep attracting top touring shows, you have to keep your building state of the art,” Stockton said.

The endowment is one of the PAC’s four major revenue streams, or pillars. The others are earned revenue, Annual Partners support and cash reserves.

John Hogerty, chairman of the PAC’s board of directors, said a number of factors helped determine the campaign’s goal amount, including what other performing arts centers of similar size have done in communities of similar size.

“We looked at our need and what we are able to generate through our earned revenues and our Annual Partners,” said Hogerty, who said the PAC also took into account the community’s capacity for philanthropic giving.

As the PAC celebrates its 10th anniversary season this year, Stockton said, raising funds for its endowment is a natural next step.

The PAC is a window onto the world for the community, and the endowment helps to secure the viability of the PAC for generations to come, said Barb Merry, campaign co-chairperson and a member of the PAC’s board of directors.

The PAC is scheduled to release its annual report on its financial health on Nov. 27.

The PAC on Friday also unveiled its new Keystone Donor Wall of Honor, which recognizes donors who have contributed a tax-deductible gift of at least $5,000. The PAC plans to update the Wall of Honor in the PAC’s Dress Circle Lobby as The Keystone Campaign continues.